Huntsville gazette., 1887-10-01
SOCIAL PROGRESS.

7ears of freedom he'd upon the So
,ial circles of the colored people.
Has society become more refined,
purer or elevated !?
These questions are Of equal inn
portancs to any questions of politics
or business, which occupy so nuch
of the public attention.
Their consideration is Of even great
or Importance just now For upon
the proper regulation. purity and
development of society depend the
and welfare of the people.
Let is ref sct and consider wbsth-
er there has been any real progress
in this direction and to what extent.
Left free at the close of the war
the Negro had weighing him down
the debasing effects o: slavery, joined
with the dem oralizatiou Of war.
But freedom was an inspiration
to him, and for brief period his life
was made gay with rejoicings and
celebrations. Then he settled down
to the cold fact that hs must take his
place with the struggling masses and
live by "the sweat of the brow must
root hole hog or die" as the la
nented Lincoln tersely summed
up the situation.
Sobcred by the responsibilities of
freedom the people accepted the slt'
uation and for twenty odd years have
been earnestly engaged in the strug, (,
gle of life, tasii4g the bitter and
sweets of free citizenship, enjoying
some Of its honors and meeting
bravely adve,slti,s and the kicks and
wrongs Of prejudice.
Howevtr. amidst this conflict, il
is pleasant to note that family life
and social circles bavs been grad
ually improving.
The refining aud elevating inHu
ences Of schools, colleges and as
sociations have greatly improved and
built up society. In thousands ol
homes are found musical instruments,
the soothing and inspiring effects OF
sweet music, books and papers and
le hig hest civility and hospitality
cultivated and practiced. The peo-
pie are acquiring homes of their own,
tastiIy ador ing the ir yards with
flowers and shrubbery and exhibit
ing love Of The aesthetic 10 the furr
oishipg and app ointment Of their
homes.
Is it asked whether these outward
signs OF Improvement mark a real in
ward growth of virtue and putty
the only solid foundation for solid
solid progress and greatness in any
people ! Let us hope for the best
and while taking courage from the
progrC s. made, also profit by expe, :
ience.
There nra evils to be corrected,
dangers to be shunpe1 and more
lessons to be lea nad, in order that
society may lie improved, elevated
and made an ornament. To accomp-
lish this the qualifications for ad-
mittance into social circ'L must be
more clcssly defined and rigadIy
adherel to. What is the passport
now?
Is il not ons of the giariug evils OF
the day that as rule strangers are
received into the bosom of good peg
pie and families entirely unrecom-
mended. That a smooth face, end
good clothes aud smooth tongue,
with no other rt commendations) too
often engraft stranger into the good
graces Of confling people, only TO
prove to be the means of blasting the
happiness and destroying the rame Of
some fair girl who has been the idol
Of her home and circle? No, clothes
nor money nor smartness must not
be allow ed to pass people into society
r. quire good recommendations Of
strangers, and even tLen be cautious
until their own merits recommend
them to your confidence and frie nd
slip.
Society net ds to be elevated. In
this way lies sure progress. Let the
liues be more clos, ly drawn aud the